Howard D Vanderwell

In a perfect world we might expect that all worshipers would be ready for a worship service of thorough praise and adoration. But that is not the case. Those who come for worship bring with them all the cares, anxieties, and stresses of life in this broken world. All are needy people. Some will find help for those needs in the pastor's office during a one-on-one conversation; some may find it in a pastoral call; but many will never experience either of those. The opportunity to minister to their needs will occur during that special time when all are gathered for worship. The sermon has received much attention as the avenue for help with their hurts, but what about the liturgy? This book takes a new and fresh look at the worship liturgy. It insists that the liturgy, regardless of denomination or style, is not merely preparatory to the main event--the sermon--but is rather the time in which the worshiper can be healthily cared for. The worshiper who comes before the face of God should be able to expect help, care, and healing. Blessed are the Pastors and worship planners who develop a sensitive concern for the care that worshipers come expecting. ""'Wise is the worship leader who . . .' is the refrain throughout this book and it is most apt. Howard Vanderwell has written a wise book, chock-full of pastoral tenderness. Yes, when we worship, our focus is on God not ourselves. Yet, the God we worship became flesh so he could care for us at eye level. Vanderwell ably moves us toward this caring presence of Christ in worship."" --Scott Hoezee, Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching, Calvin Theological Seminary ""To all persons involved in worship planning: treasure this book. In short, but impactful chapters an experienced pastor, Howard Vanderwell, provides insight that is practically focused and theologically rooted. Instead of seeing pastoral care as something that happens occasionally within a service, Vanderwell links pastoral care to every element of a service. Whatever the worship style of your church, you will find guidance and multiple examples for the care of souls."" --Rev. Jul Medenblik, President of Calvin Theological Seminary Howard Vanderwell has served as a pastor for over forty years in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Currently he serves as a Resource Specialist of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and as Adjunct Professor of Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary.

In a perfect world we might expect that all worshipers would be ready for a worship service of thorough praise and adoration. But that is not the case. Those who come for worship bring with them all the cares, anxieties, and stresses of life in this broken world. All are needy people. Some will find help for those needs in the pastor's office during a one-on-one conversation; some may find it in a pastoral call; but many will never experience either of those. The opportunity to minister to their needs will occur during that special time when all are gathered for worship. The sermon has received much attention as the avenue for help with their hurts, but what about the liturgy? This book takes a new and fresh look at the worship liturgy. It insists that the liturgy, regardless of denomination or style, is not merely preparatory to the main event--the sermon--but is rather the time in which the worshiper can be healthily cared for. The worshiper who comes before the face of God should be able to expect help, care, and healing. Blessed are the Pastors and worship planners who develop a sensitive concern for the care that worshipers come expecting. ""'Wise is the worship leader who . . .' is the refrain throughout this book and it is most apt. Howard Vanderwell has written a wise book, chock-full of pastoral tenderness. Yes, when we worship, our focus is on God not ourselves. Yet, the God we worship became flesh so he could care for us at eye level. Vanderwell ably moves us toward this caring presence of Christ in worship."" --Scott Hoezee, Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching, Calvin Theological Seminary ""To all persons involved in worship planning: treasure this book. In short, but impactful chapters an experienced pastor, Howard Vanderwell, provides insight that is practically focused and theologically rooted. Instead of seeing pastoral care as something that happens occasionally within a service, Vanderwell links pastoral care to every element of a service. Whatever the worship style of your church, you will find guidance and multiple examples for the care of souls."" --Rev. Jul Medenblik, President of Calvin Theological Seminary Howard Vanderwell has served as a pastor for over forty years in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Currently he serves as a Resource Specialist of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and as Adjunct Professor of Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary.

Have you been struck by the terror of not knowing what to preach next Sunday? Do you have the fear that maybe your sermons are not relevant to the experience of your hearers? Do you wish you had received more assistance in that from your lay leaders? Have you ever considered planning a year's pulpit work in advance? Then this book is for you. It will provide you with a tested and proven method of analyzing the needs of your congregation and adapting the presentation of your message to meet those needs. It will show you the way to involve lay leaders much more helpfully. And it will provide you with a method for planning a whole season of preaching in advance. This book will greatly increase the effectiveness of your preaching. Howard D. Vanderwell was an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church and has committed his life to the preaching of God's Word. He received the MDiv and the ThM degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the DMin degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California. He was ordained to the ministry in 1962 and has served congregations in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. He also served as the Senior Pastor of the Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.

All those who enter the pastoral ministry desire to succeed. Yet they all find, surprisingly, that a number of key issues come up for consideration. Most pastors find that most of these issues appear during the first ten years of pastoring. During those years the pattern is determined, which will point to the success or to the development of habits that will reduce effectiveness and produce stumbling. In this warm, personal, from-the-heart book, a long-time pastor not only identifies twenty-one potentially harmful issues if not handled well, but he also provides counsel and direction in how they should be faced and handled. Pastors in small rural churches where ministry seems simple, and those in suburban churches which are a bee-hive of activity, as well as those in city parishes with new challenges every day, will all find fresh insight here. Ministries will be enhanced by learning from these issues that the author identifies. All will be grateful for the warnings issued and the advice given. ""Learning ministry involves so much more than learning skills and techniques. These letters from a wise, veteran pastor lead us into a deeper way of envisioning the very core of what pastoral ministry is all about--a way of seeing deeply into the hopes and fears in our hearts and in the people among whom we minister. May many growing pastors embrace this book as 'pastoral wisdom literature.'"" --John D. Witvliet, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship ""Like Theilicke's exercises for 'young theologians, ' Howard Vanderwell's Letters to Growing Pastors offers precisely the sort of hard-won wisdom and encouragement that ministers need, especially in their first years out of seminary. At once personal and intimate, it touches on central issues every pastor faces: burnout, integrity, prayer, community, and more. A wonderful graduation gift "" --Ron Rienstra, Assistant Professor, Western Theological Seminary Howard D. Vanderwell is a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, and for forty years has served pastorates in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Currently he serves as a Resource Specialist for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and as Adjunct Professor of Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary. He has earned his MDiv and ThM degree at Calvin Seminary and his DMin from Westminster Seminary in California.

All those who enter the pastoral ministry desire to succeed. Yet they all find, surprisingly, that a number of key issues come up for consideration. Most pastors find that most of these issues appear during the first ten years of pastoring. During those years the pattern is determined, which will point to the success or to the development of habits that will reduce effectiveness and produce stumbling. In this warm, personal, from-the-heart book, a long-time pastor not only identifies twenty-one potentially harmful issues if not handled well, but he also provides counsel and direction in how they should be faced and handled. Pastors in small rural churches where ministry seems simple, and those in suburban churches which are a bee-hive of activity, as well as those in city parishes with new challenges every day, will all find fresh insight here. Ministries will be enhanced by learning from these issues that the author identifies. All will be grateful for the warnings issued and the advice given. ""Learning ministry involves so much more than learning skills and techniques. These letters from a wise, veteran pastor lead us into a deeper way of envisioning the very core of what pastoral ministry is all about--a way of seeing deeply into the hopes and fears in our hearts and in the people among whom we minister. May many growing pastors embrace this book as 'pastoral wisdom literature.'"" --John D. Witvliet, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship ""Like Theilicke's exercises for 'young theologians, ' Howard Vanderwell's Letters to Growing Pastors offers precisely the sort of hard-won wisdom and encouragement that ministers need, especially in their first years out of seminary. At once personal and intimate, it touches on central issues every pastor faces: burnout, integrity, prayer, community, and more. A wonderful graduation gift "" --Ron Rienstra, Assistant Professor, Western Theological Seminary Howard D. Vanderwell is a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, and for forty years has served pastorates in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Currently he serves as a Resource Specialist for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and as Adjunct Professor of Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary. He has earned his MDiv and ThM degree at Calvin Seminary and his DMin from Westminster Seminary in California.